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Here, thirteen timeless ways to keep your wardrobe from going stale

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Here, thirteen timeless ways to keep your wardrobe from going stale

VERY AMERICAN. AND ALSO SWEDISH.

Gant has a long history of making preppy clothes for American men. With a new creative mind, Richard Bengtsson, pitching in, this fall the Swedish company's tweeds, cashmere, and corduroys further sharpen our wardrobes. Ironic that these very American clothes come from the land of Abba. Wool jacket ($495), wool sweater ($100), cotton shirt ($100), silk tie ($85), and corduroys ($145) by Gant.

A REALLY BIG LOGO

You'll notice the ball boys at this year's U. S. Open sporting this specially designed Ralph Lauren athletic jacket (along with other tennis-inspired pieces). It's also available off the hard courts. And while we don't normally advocate logos of any kind, this horseman's so unabashedly big and cool that we'll make an exception. Microfleece jacket ($165) and polo shirt ($85) by Ralph Lauren for the U. S. Open.

A CLASSIC SHOE

As much as we live in sneakers, there are occasions when they're not appropriate. Enter Banana Republic's sturdy, rubber-soled wing tips, which are comfortable enough to keep your hooves at ease. And the rest of you can stand tall with an absolutely classic look. Leather wing tips ($138) by Banana Republic.

GO TO ELEVEN

Enthusiasts have always held up the seven-fold tie as the gold standard of neckwear, its sturdy construction making it both luxe and durable. It now takes a backseat to Dolcepunta's eleven-fold tie, which ups the ante with four extra layers, helping it keep its perfect plump shape. It's worth the dough. Silk tie ($325) by Dolcepunta.

BRAND-NEW BUT VERY FAMILIAR

One of the best new sportswear brands on the market is Greige Manufacturing Co. Cofounders Cory Gomberg and Christopher Rosen have created a no-nonsense approach to men's wear by using traditional work-wear fabrics to make ultracool cotton-twill blazers, cotton henleys, denim, and knits. All their clothes have a broken-in, familiar feel, as if you've had them tucked away in your closet all along. Two-button moleskin jacket ($245) and cotton henley ($163) by Greige.

A VERSATILE LOAFER

Fall's new laid-back approach to tailored clothing calls for a very formal breed of casual shoe, no matter how dressed up or down you are. These handmade Santoni loafers will do the trick, perfectly keeping pace with a lean, tailored suit or raising the bar on a pair of comfortable jeans. Leather loafers ($1,045) by Santoni.

FORTITUDE

In the here-today, gone-tomorrow world of men's colognes, a scent has to be strong enough to survive the competition. Considering Armani's own self-titled fragrance has been on shelves for more than two decades, we're betting that the designer's new Black Code cologne, with its combination of citrus, wood, and tonka-bean notes, has the strength to do the same. $45 for 1.7 oz; $60 for 2.5 oz; sephora.com"

SIX SHIRTS AND TIES

RULES FOR WEARING 'EM

If there is one consistent expression of a man's sartorial acumen, it's the way in which he pairs his shirt with his tie. And while the art of matching the two is always up to the individual, there are still some rules. Here, three to remember:

1 Bold graphic statements such as matching a red tie with a plain white shirt or sporting a contrast collar will convey the power of a Donald Trump or Gordon Gekko.

2 To go with the new breed of lean-cut suits, you should ditch the plain oxford in favor of a striped shirt paired with a narrow tie.

3 And don't forget, the pattern on your tie should never be more noticeable than the one on your shirt.